Biography - Thomas Devine

THOMAS DEVINE
is one of the active and wide-awake business men of the city of Chester, in
which place he made his advent in 1891, but has been a resident of this state
for twenty years. His birth occurred in Birmingham, England, December 12, 1858,
and his parents were James and Catherine Devine. The father was born in Ireland,
and in early manhood emigrated to England, where he and his wife are still
living, spending their declining years in ease and comfort.

Our subject is one of a family of six children born to his parents. He attended
the public schools in his native shire, gaining a good education, and when old
enough he commenced to work in the rolling mills. He continued in this business
until 1873, when he thought he could better his fortunes by coming to the United
States. He immediately came to the Prairie State, settling in Grand Tower,
Jackson County, where he worked for his uncle, John Devine. Two years later he
went to Fredericktown, Mo., where he stayed until his removal to this city,
since which time he has been engaged with his uncle in the ice and saloon
business. It has grown to be a lucrative enterprise, and part of the time he has
carried it on alone.

June 30, 1885, Miss Vena Bruns became the wife of our subject. The lady is a
daughter of William and Sophia Bruns, who are residents of Chester, and who
emigrated from Germany in an early day. Mrs. Devine is the second in a family of
six children born to her worthy parents. She was reared in the faith of the
Presbyterian Church, while her husband is a Catholic.

Politically, Mr. Devine is a Democrat, but has never aspired to official duties,
preferring the quietude of home life to political honors. Socially he is a
member of Hercules Lodge No. 228, K. of P., at Chester.

Extracted from Portrait and Biographical Record of Randolph, Jackson, Perry and Monroe
Counties, Illinois, published in 1894, page 232.